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Behavior, Education, and Communication Overview

Solving environmental problems often comes down to solving people problems. How can we compel individuals and groups to accept willingly—and, better, to seek out—more sustainable life patterns? This is one of the main challenges of creating meaningful environmental change, and the overarching focus of SNRE’s Behavior, Education, and Communication field of study.

As a Behavior, Education, and Communication specialist, you will learn how people think, what drives them, and the conditions under which they behave most reasonably and creatively. You will develop conceptual frameworks and learn to employ strategies to address local, regional, and global environmental problems by motivating individuals, groups, and organizations to adopt impactful behavior patterns. Through leadership and engagement, you will influence human behavior and empower diverse communities to achieve the ultimate goal of enduring environmental sustainability.

"The Behavior, Education, and Communication track at SNRE combines my interests in psychology and environmental conservation. It provides a background in the environmental sciences along with the tools to change our collective behaviors. When I graduate, I plan to work as an organizer to help communities share resources and foster environmental stewardship.”

CURRICULUM

SNRE’s Behavior, Education, and Communication coursework builds a sophisticated understanding of the causes, dynamics, and consequences of decisions and actions that impact natural resources and the environment. You will study human behavior—both current and evolutionary—in the context of the environment. You will learn to share information effectively, use instructional and motivational techniques to encourage desired behaviors, and negotiate conflicts by engaging diverse stakeholders to address sustainability challenges collaboratively.

Course Sampling

Advanced Environmental Education

Social Vulnerability and Adaptation to Environmental Change

Network Analysis for Natural Resource and Environmental Planning

Natural Resources Conflict Management

Psychology of Environmental Stewardship

Natural Resources Conflict Management

Negotiation Skills in Environmental Dispute Resolution

Public Opinion and the Environment

Behavior and Environment

Localization Seminar: Transitional Thinking

CAREERS AND SELECT EMPLOYERS

You will graduate equipped with the background and skills to work as an environmental advocate, communicator, K-12 or non-formal educator, an environmental engagement, outreach, or sustainability manager, a conservation behavior specialist, or an environmental dispute resolution specialist. The following are select employers of BEC graduates:

SNRE Mission

The School of Natural Resources and Environment's overarching objective is to contribute to the protection of the Earth's resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. Through research, teaching and outreach, faculty, staff and students are devoted to generating knowledge and developing policies, techniques and skills to help practitioners manage and conserve natural and environmental resources to meet the full range of human needs on a sustainable basis.